Biological Activity and Clinical Application Research of IL-18 Protein
IL-18 protein is a multifunctional cytokine whose biological functions are not species-specific and play an important role in inflammatory responses, immune regulation, and disease development.
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1. Overview of IL-18 Protein's Biological Activity
IL-18 protein is a multifunctional cytokine with biological functions that are not species-specific, playing important roles in inflammatory responses, immune regulation, and disease development. Early studies identified neutrophils as its target cells, as the protein specifically recruits neutrophils into inflammatory tissues, promotes their degranulation, generates superoxide anions, and triggers respiratory bursts. Simultaneously, IL-18 protein can activate inflammatory cells, promote acute-phase protein synthesis, induce fever, participate in pathological inflammatory damage, stimulate the release of inflammatory mediators, and promote fibroblast proliferation, playing a significant role in chronic inflammation. Further research has revealed that IL-18 protein acts on various cells, promoting inflammatory responses, stimulating angiogenesis, exerting mitogenic effects, and regulating host immune functions. It is closely associated with the development of various inflammatory diseases, tumors, and immune disorders.
2. Relationship Between IL-18 Protein and Infectious Diseases
In infectious diseases, IL-18 protein levels exhibit significant changes. Influenza virus-infected macrophages produce increased IL-18 protein, and stimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with various microorganisms enhances IL-18 secretion. Elevated IL-18 titers are observed in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with infectious central nervous system diseases and in the serum of tuberculosis patients. In infections caused by pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans, IL-18 protein synergizes with IL-12. IL-18 protein can independently activate CD8-positive T cells, which play a crucial role in viral clearance. These findings suggest that IL-18 protein has important value in anti-infection immunity.
3. Relationship Between IL-18 Protein and Tumor Diseases
In tumor research, IL-18 protein demonstrates anti-tumor activity. It enhances the tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and transgenic studies show that IL-18 protein can inhibit fibrosarcoma growth in nude mice. After removing natural killer cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, IL-18 protein can still activate the cytotoxic activity of human cytotoxic T lymphocytes, suppressing the development of autologous tumors. These results indicate that IL-18 protein plays a significant role in anti-tumor immunity by activating effector cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.
4. Relationship Between IL-18 Protein and Immune Diseases
IL-18 protein expression is upregulated in various immune diseases. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods reveal increased mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-18 in the intestinal epithelium of Crohn's disease patients. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, IL-18 gene and protein expression are elevated in joint synovial tissues. In non-obese diabetic mice, IL-18 mRNA expression is upregulated in the pancreas. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), elevated IL-18 protein is a marker of disease activity, enhancing apoptosis rates of peripheral blood lymphocytes and causing regulatory dysfunction in SLE patients. Additionally, IL-18 protein is closely associated with autoimmune demyelinating diseases and myasthenia gravis, with increased serum levels of IL-18 and interferon-γ correlating positively with disease severity.
5. Relationship Between IL-18 Protein and Immune-Related Kidney Diseases
Studies on IL-18 protein and kidney diseases show upregulated IL-18 expression in lupus nephritis mice, paralleling disease severity. Not only infiltrating monocytes express IL-18 protein, but primary cultured renal tubular epithelial cells also become major sources of IL-18 expression. IL-18 protein increases apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells and upregulates the expression of cell adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule. In human lupus nephritis patients, IL-18 gene and protein expression are significantly higher in peripheral blood and kidney tissues compared to controls, with urinary IL-18 levels also markedly elevated. Primary nephrotic syndrome and lupus nephritis patients exhibit more IL-18 protein expression in renal tubulointerstitial areas than in glomerular regions, with correlation analysis showing a positive relationship between IL-18 expression in tubulointerstitial areas and the degree of tubulointerstitial damage. It has been confirmed that IL-18 protein enhances Fas ligand-mediated cytotoxicity, leading to cell apoptosis.
6. Clinical Research Significance of IL-18 Protein
As a multifunctional cytokine, IL-18 protein plays important roles in infectious diseases, tumor diseases, immune disorders, and immune-related kidney diseases. Through mechanisms such as neutrophil recruitment, inflammatory cell activation, and cytokine release, it participates in inflammatory responses while exerting anti-tumor effects by activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. In autoimmune diseases, IL-18 protein levels closely correlate with disease activity, serving as important monitoring indicators. In-depth research on the biological activity and clinical applications of IL-18 protein helps elucidate its role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, providing theoretical foundations for diagnosis and intervention. Future studies will further explore the precise regulatory mechanisms of IL-18 protein in different diseases and its potential applications as a biomarker and therapeutic target.
7. Which Manufacturers Provide IL-18 Protein?
Nanjing UA-Biotech Co., Ltd. (UA-Bio) has independently developed "IL-18 Protein, Mouse", a high-quality recombinant protein reagent specifically designed for research on mouse inflammatory responses, innate immune regulation, and autoimmune disease models. This protein, derived from mouse interleukin-18 (IL-18), is a key effector molecule in inflammasome activation. It efficiently activates the IL-18 receptor signaling pathway, inducing IFN-γ production, promoting Th1-type immune responses, and enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells and T cells. It provides a stable and reliable standardized tool for exploring mouse inflammatory mechanisms, constructing autoimmune disease models, and preclinical drug efficacy evaluation.
| Core Product Advantages |
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| High Purity and Complete Biological Activity: The product utilizes internationally advanced recombinant expression systems and highly standardized purification processes, validated through multidimensional quality control to ensure >95% purity, correct native conformation, and intact biological function. The protein efficiently binds to the mouse IL-18 receptor complex (IL-18Rα/IL-18Rβ), accurately simulating IL-18-mediated IFN-γ induction, NK cell activation, and Th1 cell differentiation signals under physiological conditions. |
| Excellent Batch-to-Batch Consistency and Stability: Strict management from gene construction, protein expression to purification quality control, combined with a comprehensive release testing system, ensures each batch of product exhibits stable biological activity, consistent purity, and superior long-term stability. This provides reliable quality assurance for long-term and continuous mouse inflammation and immune research. |
| Ideal Tool for Multiple Applications: This protein performs excellently in various application systems, including mouse NK cell activation and expansion, Th1 cell differentiation induction, macrophage activation studies, inflammatory factor induction analysis, and signaling pathway research. It is widely applicable for constructing autoimmune disease models, infection immunity research, tumor immunotherapy exploration, and preclinical drug activity evaluation. |
| Complete Solutions and Professional Support: We provide thoroughly validated standard experimental protocols, typical biological activity data, and detailed product analysis certificates to help establish stable and reproducible experimental workflows. Nanjing UA-Bio's professional technical team offers comprehensive support for research design, experimental optimization, and data analysis. |
Nanjing UA-Biotech Co., Ltd. is dedicated to providing cutting-edge, high-quality core reagents and tools for immunology, cell therapy, and innovative drug development. For detailed technical parameters, validation data, or specific application inquiries regarding "IL-18 Protein, Mouse" (Catalog No.: UA040195), please feel free to contact us.
This article is reviewed and published by the technical expert team of UA
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